How to care for your cat's teeth?

While the importance of dental health for humans is obvious, many people are unaware that your cat's oral health also has a significant impact on their general well-being. Feline dental hygiene is far more than just a matter of aesthetics and has a considerable effect on their quality of life. It plays a crucial role in their well-being, overall health, and quality of life.

However, the importance of feline dental health is often underestimated. Many cat owners are not aware that dental problems can affect not only their feline friend's mouth but also other vital organs in the body. Feline dental diseases can be insidious and remain unnoticed for a long time. Untreated dental diseases can lead to infections, chronic pain, and even serious complications such as heart or kidney infections.

Therefore, it is our duty as cat owners to ensure that our beloved companions' teeth remain healthy and well-cared for. By focusing on prevention, early detection, and regular dental care, we can help them live a long and happy life.

How do I know if my cat has dental pain?

It can be difficult to tell if a cat has dental pain, as cats instinctively tend to hide their pain. Nevertheless, there are some subtle signs that may indicate potential dental problems:

• Difficulty eating: If your cat seems to have difficulty chewing their food, chews asymmetrically, makes noises while chewing, tilts their head, or switches from hard to soft food, this could be a sign of dental pain.
• Bad breath: Although cats' breath never truly smells pleasant, a particularly foul odor can indicate a dental infection.
• Scratching or rubbing the mouth: If a cat scratches or rubs its mouth with its paws, this can be an indication of dental discomfort. Sometimes cats also rub their head unusually intensely against objects or furniture, or shake it repeatedly and violently. These behaviors can intensify particularly during or after meals, when dental pain is exacerbated by chewing.
• Change in grooming habits: Cats may stop grooming themselves properly if they have mouth pain. An unkempt, oily coat, excessive knots, or a "spiky" looking coat are signs of inadequate grooming, and the cause should be investigated.
• Excessive salivation: A noticeably increased flow of saliva, sometimes accompanied by drooling, can indicate mouth irritation.
• Loss of appetite: If your cat suddenly starts refusing their usual food or eats less than usual, this can be a sign of pain when chewing.
• Aggressive behavior when touching the mouth: Cats with dental problems may be sensitive to touch around the mouth area.
• Lethargy: Cats with dental pain may become lethargic or less active than usual.

Should you notice one or more of these symptoms in your cat, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. Untreated dental problems can have serious consequences and endanger the health of your beloved pet. Early detection and appropriate treatment are essential to spare your cat pain and prevent further complications.

How are feline dental diseases diagnosed?

During a visit to the veterinarian with your cat, they will first conduct a careful examination of the oral cavity. This includes a visual inspection of the teeth and gums to detect signs of tartar, plaque, gingivitis, ulcers, or other irregularities. It may be necessary for the veterinarian to lightly sedate your cat to perform a more detailed examination using special dental instruments. This serves to precisely assess the condition of the teeth and gums, including checking for gingival pockets or damage to the tooth neck. In some cases, dental X-rays are also required to obtain a comprehensive picture of the dental health from the roots to the pulp and enamel, as well as the gums, tooth roots, and jawbones. This thorough analysis helps to assess the vitality of the teeth and to identify possible fractures, infections, tumors, or other diseases. Based on these examinations and, if necessary, further tests, the veterinarian can make a precise diagnosis and propose a tailored treatment plan to spare your cat pain and effectively restore their dental health.

What are the most common causes of feline dental diseases?

Feline dental diseases can have various causes, including viral, genetic, and environmental factors.

A significant cause of dental problems is the formation of plaque, a sticky substance made of bacteria, saliva, and food debris. To prevent the mineralization and thus the hardening of plaque into tartar, regular tooth brushing or an adapted diet is essential. Tartar promotes inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and periodontal diseases. In some cases, dental abscesses caused by bacterial infections can also develop from these conditions. Without appropriate treatment, these dental discomforts can lead to pain and discomfort in the cat and potentially serious health risks, including blood infections.

Cats that primarily consume soft/wet food have a slightly higher risk of dental problems. The reason for this is that such food types, due to low mechanical friction, contribute less to the natural cleaning of the teeth than dry food. Also, accidents and altercations can lead to dental injuries, such as tooth fractures or tooth displacements.

Likewise, certain health problems, such as diabetes or immunodeficiencies, can increase the risk of dental problems, as they reduce resistance to infections and make it more difficult to maintain optimal dental health.

Feline dental diseases can also be associated with viral infections, including the feline calicivirus, which often causes upper respiratory tract diseases such as rhinitis (an inflammation of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses) and stomatitis (a painful inflammation of the gums and oral mucosa). Cats affected by calicivirus may show symptoms such as oral ulcers, increased salivation, and difficulty eating, which can further exacerbate existing dental problems. This situation requires immediate veterinary treatment to alleviate the discomfort and effectively treat the infection. The holistic treatment of such dental diseases with underlying calicivirus infection often includes a combination of careful dental care and medicinal therapy to address both the viral infection and the associated discomfort, thereby promoting the cat's well-being.

In addition, genetic predisposition plays a role in susceptibility to dental diseases, with certain pedigree cats, including British Shorthair, Maine Coon, and Persian, showing a higher predisposition.

For example, chronic feline gingivostomatitis is a disease of the gums and oral mucosa that is more common in pedigree cats. It can vary in severity and is characterized by reddened and swollen gums as well as gum overgrowth around the molars. X-rays also often show damage to tooth crowns and roots, which are extremely painful for cats. 

In kittens, juvenile feline gingivitis occurs, which is mainly found in Abyssinians, Maine Coons, and Persians. It is characterized by proliferative and reddened gums, while the teeth remain clean. The redness and overgrowth begin when the permanent teeth erupt through the gums, and by the age of one year, the crowns of the premolars and molars can be almost completely covered by the gums. A similar syndrome, which often affects ailing, sniffly kittens, and is more common in Siamese, Maine Coons, and domestic cats, is juvenile periodontitis. In contrast to juvenile gingivitis, plaque and tartar quickly form here, exposing the tooth roots and leading to gum and bone recession.

The cause of another very common and very painful feline dental disease, however, remains unclear. These are the so-called FORL (Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions). In this condition, the body's own cells (odontoclasts) are activated for unknown reasons. They begin to break down the hard tooth substance and thus 'eat holes' in the teeth. This process begins in the tooth roots and tooth necks and therefore often remains undetected for a long time without an X-ray examination.

How are cat's teeth cared for?

Dental care for cats encompasses a wide range of measures, from daily home care to professional veterinary treatments, depending on the advancement of the dental problems.

For daily home care, regular brushing of the teeth with a toothbrush designed for cats and suitable toothpaste is recommended, supplemented by a diet focused on dental health. In some cases, it may also be helpful to use antiseptic toothpaste to prevent infections, or to use anti-inflammatory agents to effectively treat pain and inflammation.

For more severe dental problems, veterinary intervention may be necessary. This can include a professional dental cleaning under general anesthesia to remove tartar and plaque, as well as measures such as tooth reconstruction or devitalization for fractured teeth and the application of specific medications for the treatment of infections.

Do my cat's teeth need to be extracted?

In some cases, when the teeth are too severely damaged or inflamed, with a pronounced feline calicivirus infection or with FORL, partial or complete removal of the teeth may be necessary as a measure for pain relief and to prevent further infection spread. The thought of extracting many or even all of a cat's teeth is unsettling for many owners. However, it is important to know that cats usually recover very well from such tooth extractions and often quickly eat better than before. They can consume adapted food (wet food or small kibble) without problems, even if they no longer have a complete set of teeth. Furthermore, tooth extraction will definitely alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with advanced dental diseases, thereby improving the cat's quality of life long-term.

Veterinarians usually recommend tooth extraction when other treatment options have proven ineffective or when the dental problems are so severe that they endanger the general health of the animal. Therefore, it is crucial to follow the veterinarian's recommendations and make decisions based on the cat's well-being and comfort.

What can I do to help my cat maintain healthy teeth and prevent diseases?

Below are some practical tips on how you can help your cat maintain healthy teeth and prevent diseases:

• Regular tooth brushing: Introduce a tooth brushing routine with a toothbrush specifically designed for cats and a suitable toothpaste. Start gradually and with patience to accustom your cat to the process.
• Diet and food supplements: There is specially formulated food that promotes the dental health of cats, often in the form of dry food. If you do not want to change the food, we recommend food supplements in the form of treats, chews, and powders that are specifically designed to support the cleaning of the teeth by reducing the accumulation of dental plaque.
• Chew toys: Some cats enjoy nibbling and chewing on their toys. For these, rubber or specially designed dental toys are a good option that helps to naturally clean the teeth and massage the gums.
• Regular dental check-ups: It is generally advisable to take your cat to the veterinarian annually for a general check-up, which provides an ideal opportunity to also have an oral examination performed. This allows the veterinarian to detect possible dental problems in their early stages and suggest preventive measures to prevent serious diseases.

In conclusion, it should be emphasized once again that dental health is an essential component of your cat's general well-being. By taking preventive measures such as regular tooth brushing, a balanced diet, and regular veterinary check-ups, you actively support the maintenance of your cat's dental health and thus contribute to an optimal quality of life.